Political Science and Government at Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech's political science program delivers something rare in this field: outcomes that actually beat most in-state alternatives while keeping debt manageable. At $34,640 first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $6,000 more than the typical Louisiana poli sci grad—landing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. Only Tulane produces notably higher earners, but comes with private school tuition. The debt load of $25,054 translates to a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than nine months of their first year's salary.

The challenge here is that the sample size is small—fewer than 30 graduates—so individual outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly. Political science also remains a modest earner nationally, with Louisiana Tech's outcomes sitting just below the national median of $35,627. This isn't a lucrative field regardless of where you study it, so family resources and graduate school plans matter considerably.

For Louisiana families, though, this represents a practical path. Your child would outpace peers at LSU and UL Lafayette while paying public university tuition rates. The debt burden is reasonable enough to service while pursuing graduate education or public sector work—both common next steps for poli sci majors. Just remember these numbers reflect a small cohort and may not predict your child's individual outcome.